Conference Papers and Presentations

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A Plan for the Economic Development of the Gaza Strip: Free Industrial 1 Zone on Land and Artificial Islands
Ernst G. Frankel

The economic condition of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip is dire, with a per capita income estimated to have sunk to less than $600/year, with unemployment near 42% and youth unemployment even higher (source: PCBS). More than 30,000 workers from Gaza lost their jobs in Israel since 2000, with an additional 6,000 workers with jobs in the border (Eretz) Industrial Zone being only intermittently employed. Average daily wages in Gaza have held steady at about 55 NI Shekels (about $11.62) or only about 75% of those earned in the West Bank and 30% of those earned by Israeli workers. . . . .

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The Demand for Macro Projects and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Mark Sawoski

Once again, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is at a turning point. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s plan unilaterally to withdraw from the Gaza Strip and part of the West Bank, while on the surface an act of frustration born of the perceived absence of a genuine negotiating partner, is effectively breaking the stalemate that has existed between the parties since January 2001. At that time, Israeli and Palestinian negotiators, meeting at Taba, Egypt, came closer than ever before to a settlement. Yes, there were still some substantial disagreements, including legitimate reasons for the Palestinians to turn down the proposed “deal.” ...

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A Partial History of Palestine
Karl Sabbagh

The phrase ‘New Land for Peace’ is the starting point for this conference and I’d like to explain something about the land, and something about why there isn’t peace there at the moment. In that way we’ll be able to see a little more clearly whether there are ways in which major engineering projects had help to address the problem that has challenged the world’s use of diplomacy so much over the last fifty years ...

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Diplomacy and Peace-Building
Dame Margaret Anstee

I want to echo the gratitude that has been expressed by earlier speakers for being invited to this important meeting, this important conference. I have to say that, in my case, I feel myself to be doubly overwhelmed. I think Frank Davidson likes to spring surprises on people and it was only last night that he informed me that this was going to be the Nakagawa Memorial Lecture and I was immediately very concerned as to whether the modest contribution I am about to make would really be a suitable tribute to his memory. . . . .

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Development Potentials for Palestine
Timothy Rothermel

Good morning and thank you for allowing me to share some thoughts with you about Palestine. I do somewhat reluctantly, being fairly removed from the world of construction or diplomacy. But I do so with pleasure, principally because of my enormously high regard for Dame Margaret Anstee and the opportunity to see her here since her here since her frequent travels never seem to bring her to Jerusalem; and secondly, because of the persuasiveness of Dean White. . . . .

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New Land for Peace: An Overview of International Legal Aspects
John E. Noyes

A New Land for Peace project will require creative input from numerous disciplines. International law is one of those disciplines. But just what can international law and international lawyers contribute? The first section of this essay reflects broadly on the potential roles of international lawyers and the discipline of international law with respect to this project. . . . .

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Economic Conditions and Trends in the Region: Potential Strategies to Encourage Foreign Direct Investment
Dr. Lester Thurow

Let me start with a puzzle. In 2002, everything we know about human beings says that we are normally distributed. Some of us are very tall, some of us are very short, but most of us are average. Some of us are very smart, some of us are very dumb, but most of us are average. In anything you look at in human beings, you tend to come to that conclusion, but if you look at countries you see something very different. In 2002, the range in per-capita income across the world using purchasing power parity was about 500 dollars in the poorest countries in the world and 40,000 dollars in the richest countries in the world. . . . .

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Water: Israeli Strategy, Implications for Peace and the Viability of Palestine
Harald D. Fredericksen

“A total of 40,000 people living in Katna and six neighboring villages between Ramallah and Jerusalem are living on the extreme edge of a most precarious water supply. The high areas have almost no running water, while the other neighborhoods get running water between 3 and 4 days a week only. As a result, the Civil Administration has enforced severe rationing. Laundry is done once a fortnight, and people can only shower once or twice a week. Several children have fainted from dehydration. The wells have almost run dry . . . .

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